County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lewis County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lewis County, NY - 13% below the US average.

$839
1-bedroom FMR
$1,008
2-bedroom FMR
+12.3%
YoY change
-13%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lewis is the 6th cheapest of 62 counties in New York by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,479 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 12.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,479
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#6
cheapest of 62 in New York (2BR)
-36%
vs the state average
$33,560
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (28.5%); 15 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lewis County, NY. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lewis County, New York at $839 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,008/mo and a studio is $758/mo. This is 13% lower than the national average of $959 and 36% below the New York average of $1,315.

Rent increased12.3% from FY 2025 ($747), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,560/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New York. Population: 26,690. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.4%, Census ACS). That's slower than New York's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LEWIS·COUNTY·NY·NY

Lewis County, NY: $839/mo 1BR · #1479 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NY
  • 1BR-FMR $839
  • 2BR-FMR $1,008
  • RANK-MID #1,479
  • YOY-SURGE +12.3%
  • VSUS-BELOW -13%
  • VS-ST-LOW -36% NY
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-SMALL 27K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Kings County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $755–$923
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Kings ($1,816 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,215 · US avg: $893
$758/mo
↑ 3.6% YoY -38% vs state -15% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,315 · US avg: $959
$839/mo
↑ 12.3% YoY -36% vs state -13% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,579 · US avg: $1,175
$1,008/mo
↑ 5.1% YoY -36% vs state -14% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,976 · US avg: $1,525
$1,402/mo
↑ 10.3% YoY -29% vs state -8% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,193 · US avg: $1,756
$1,646/mo
↑ 5.7% YoY -25% vs state -6% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $732
$758
+$26 (+3.6%)
1 Bedroom $747
$839
+$92 (+12.3%)
2 Bedroom $959
$1,008
+$49 (+5.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,271
$1,402
+$131 (+10.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,557
$1,646
+$89 (+5.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Lewis County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
13.3%
Affordable
Need $30,320/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.7%
Affordable
Need $33,560/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.7%
Affordable
Need $40,320/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
24.6%
Affordable
Need $56,080/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
28.9%
Affordable
Need $65,840/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%17.7%
Lewis County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $68,329 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New York rent burden →

Where Lewis sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,008 higher than 47% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Lewis compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New York counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lewis is highlighted. Nearby New York counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Kings County ($2,655), Queens County ($2,655), New York County ($2,655), Bronx County ($2,655), Suffolk County ($2,379), Nassau County ($2,379), Lewis County (this county) ($839).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $839/mo compares to New York salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NY Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $161,260 6.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $129,990 7.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $105,600 9.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $101,780 9.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $93,050 10.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $82,480 12.2% Affordable
Electricians $77,460 13% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $66,390 15.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,520 16.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,840 21% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,840 24.7% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $39,920 25.2% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $37,020 27.2% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,600 27.5% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,270 28.5% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (New York) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lewis County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lewis (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 27.9% overall, from $656 to $839. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.3% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$650$700$750$800$850 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $839
Lewis County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑12.3% $758 $839 $1,008
FY 2025 ↑5.7% $732 $747 $959
FY 2024 ↑2.2% $693 $707 $905
FY 2023 ↑5.2% $685 $692 $899
FY 2022 ↓1.6% $647 $658 $838
FY 2021 ↑2.0% $645 $669 $828
FY 2020 $610 $656 $778
Total change (6yr): +27.9%
Annualized: +4.2%/yr
1 BR: $656 → $839

Where Lewis County Ranks in New York

Lewis County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #6 of 62 counties in New York. Nearest by rank: Chenango County ($973), Wyoming County ($973), Allegany County ($974), Chautauqua County ($975), Cattaraugus County ($1,007), Lewis County (this county) ($1,008), Delaware County ($1,033), Franklin County ($1,044), St. Lawrence County ($1,071), Steuben County ($1,081), Fulton County ($1,087), Yates County ($1,097), Montgomery County ($1,102), Broome County ($1,103).

Chenango County
2 BR: $973/mo
Wyoming County
2 BR: $973/mo
Allegany County
2 BR: $974/mo
Chautauqua County
2 BR: $975/mo
Cattaraugus County
2 BR: $1,007/mo
Lewis County (this county)
2 BR: $1,008/mo
Delaware County
2 BR: $1,033/mo
Franklin County
2 BR: $1,044/mo
St. Lawrence County
2 BR: $1,071/mo
Steuben County
2 BR: $1,081/mo
Fulton County
2 BR: $1,087/mo
Yates County
2 BR: $1,097/mo
Montgomery County
2 BR: $1,102/mo
Broome County
2 BR: $1,103/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lewis County, both outside New York so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside NY (FY2026).

Marshall County
IN · 2 BR $1,008/mo
Brown County
OH · 2 BR $1,008/mo
Jasper County
IA · 2 BR $1,008/mo
San Miguel County
NM · 2 BR $1,008/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside NY).

Carlisle County
KY · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $915/mo
Huron County
OH · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Clinton County
MI · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $1,268/mo
Traverse County
MN · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in New York

Largest counties by population in New York

Showing the 8 largest of 61 other counties in New York.

Kings County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,679,620
Queens County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,360,826
New York County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,645,867
Suffolk County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,524,486
Bronx County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,443,229
Nassau County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,389,160
Westchester County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 997,904
Erie County
1 BR: $1,139/mo Pop: 951,232
View all counties in New York →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lewis County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lewis County is $839 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,008 and a studio is $758.
How does Lewis County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lewis County is 13% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $839 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lewis County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lewis County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,008 ranks #1,479 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lewis County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,560 ($2,797/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lewis County.
Is rent going up or down in Lewis County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lewis County increased by 12.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $747 to $839.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lewis County? ▼
Based on New York BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $839/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lewis County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lewis County went from $656 in FY 2020 to $839 in FY 2026, a total change of +27.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lewis County? ▼
In Lewis County, the FY 2026 FMR of $839/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Lewis County? ▼
For Lewis County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($839/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.